Hank Stram (born January 3, 1923), the only coach the Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs ever had in the American Football League, won three AFL titles, more than any other coach in the league's history. He also coached for the most victories (87), most post-season appearances (6) and the best post-season record (5-1).
Stram was an innovator, a shrewd judge of talent, and an excellent teacher. He helped develop Hall of Famers Len Dawson, Johnny Robinson, Willie Lanier, Ed Budde and many others.
In Super Bowl IV, his ingenious innovations, the "moving pocket" and the "triple-stack defense", utterly dominated the Vikings on both sides of the ball. In that championship game, Stram became the first professional football coach to wear a microphone. Stram's recorded comments from that game have become classics: "Let's matriculate the ball down the field, boys.", and his assessment of the Vikings' ineffectual play: "You can't do that in OUR league!"
The man who coached the team Stram beat in Super Bowl IV was elected to the "pro football" hall of fame nine years before Stram was admitted, adding weight to the contention that the hall of fame selection process is flawed. Like those of other AFL pioneers, Stram's contributions to the game helped change the face of professional football. Hank Stram was a ten-year head coach in the American Football League, and a member of the American Football League Hall of Fame.
